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International African Inventors Museum Comes to Campus
OVC pathobiologist featured as part of hands-on exhibit
A collection of African inventions will be on display March 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the University Centre courtyard. The mobile museum highlights inventions by people of African descent, such as the egg beater, the lawn mower and the bike frame.
“The exhibit is an opportunity to highlight the many accomplishments that have come out of Africa,” says Judy Winkup, a local elementary school teacher who helped organize the event. “There are a lot of inventions that we use every day and may not think about where they came from or who invented them.”
A number of inventors are featured as part of the hands-on exhibit, including U of G professor emeritus Carlton Gyles. The pathobiologist is one of the world's leading experts on E. coli and was among the first researchers to pinpoint how a toxin produced by E. coli could cause illness in pigs.
“I am very honoured to be part of such an exhibit,” he says.
The museum was founded in 1988 and has travelled nationally and internationally. It is now owned by Francis and Denise Jeffers, whose daughter, Asha, attends U of G.
The two-day exhibit will also feature nightly workshops and lectures related to African accomplishments and culture.
On March 29, Guelph graduate Eli Bamfo will lead a spoken-word workshop at 5:30 p.m. in Room 441 of the University Centre. At 7 p.m., Francis Jeffers will discuss “Contributions and Inventions of African Canadians to Science and Technology” in the same room.
On March 30, Fulé Badoe will give a drumming workshop at 5 p.m. in Room 103 of the University Centre. At 7 p.m., Akwatu Khenti will present “A Living History of African People” in the same room.
The workshops are open to the public and cost $5 general and $2 for students. Both lectures are free and open to everyone.
A party to kick off the two-day event runs March 21 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Grad Lounge on Level 5 of the University Centre.
For more information, contact Winkup at jlwnk@yahoo.com.